Quilt for Berry

The news the NFL has been waiting for but did not want to hear came down today.   Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs has Hodgkins Lymphoma.   He was placed on the Non-Football Injury shortly before Thanksgiving for further evaluation of a mass in his chest.  

The doctors are hopeful.   But cancer treatment is never fun.  

We all know I LOVE football.   A good time for me is quilting while watching an NFL game.   We also know I HATE cancer.    Cancer is an evil that must be destroyed.   There are many researchers working towards this end.    Let's give them a hand.  

On the right you can make a donation directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.   Any donation of $10 qualifies you for a memorial block for a quilt.    Let's get enough donations to make at least 1 quilt.   That quilt will then be auctioned off on EBay to raise even more money for cancer research.  

I am thinking something in Chiefs' colors:   Red and White.   Or maybe a football quilt.   Yes they have football field quilts and I have never made one.   Hey, if there are enough donations, I can do 2 quilts (hint, hint).  

Let's do this for Eric Berry and everyone facing off at the line of scrimmage against this horrible disease.

Still Here

I'm still here.   Still quilting.   Still donating.   Although I have another blog about selling quilts, I still have this site for people who want to donate directly.

Take a moment this month and make a donation to Intrepid Fallen Heroes.   They are helping our troops recovering from battlefield injuries.   Check out their page on Intrepid Spirit Centers.   These centers provide treatment near the soldier's home base so the family does not have to be uprooted or travel long distances.   It takes about $11 million dollars to build each center.   Obviously, every little bit helps.  

Donate $10 get a block.   Donate $200 and get a whole quilt made in your honor.   Blocks and quilts made during the month of November go to veteran's organizations.   They want full size quilts, so need to make a lot of blocks.

Help spread the word, share this post.

Same Fabric -- Different Quilt

Playing a little hooky from work to post this.

One of the things I love about quilting is working with all the beautiful fabrics.   There are so many choices out there.   And the choice of fabric can make or break a quilt.   When I first started quilting, I kept all my fabric tumbled in a box.   Hard to see what I had, but sometimes a fabric would wind up next to another one and I discovered a fabric combination I would never have thought on my own.   Who puts peach and light grey together without planning?   But you put them next to each other and you see the gorgeous possibilities.  

Pattern matters too.    You can take a fabric and put it in one pattern and it looks good.   You take the same fabric and put it in another pattern and it looks completely different -- good but different.

I did that recently.    You previously saw this quilt, using the Robert Kaufman Stargazer fabrics.   It's a court house steps with the planets in the middle.

I loved the fabrics so much, that I wanted another quilt.   So I made a speed (or race) quilt out of them.   Same fabrics, except I added the dark blue that I did not use in the previous quilt and left out the planets.    It came out like this:

Holy mackeral.    Same fabrics.   2 dramatically different but compelling quilts.  


Now I wonder what else I can do with those fabrics.



Remember, all quilts are for sale, even if not finished yet.   If the top is done, you can select your backing and batting (muslin and polyester batting included in price).    As always 25% of the price goes to charity.

Take a Stand With A Quilt

It's been tough being an NFL fan lately.   All the bad news about players abusing women and kids.   How can I continue to love the game on Sunday, yet go into court on Monday and represent a victim of DV?   Partly by remembering, that it is only a percentage of players doing this and not even a majority of them.   Partly by quilting.   Quilting can heal.   The AIDS quilt is probably the best known modern example of using the act of quilting to heal and remember.   But quilting itself is quite therapeutic, plus who doesn't love snuggling under a nice warm quilt when sick or just feeling blue?

So I made a quilt.   It's purple because that's the color for domestic violence awareness.   I put butterflies and stars in it for hope.   DV victims can get help.   They can be protected.

It's being auctioned off on EBay with 100% of the sale price goes to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.   Please visit, bid, spread the word, ask questions, help.  

Thank you.

Why I Keep On Quilting

Today I got a very nice note from Binky Patrol for my latest delivery of 2 quilts.   Knowing I helped kids in need is great.   The nice note was the perfect pick me up on a Monday.

Here's the front of the note:

Still Quilting

This week I shipped 2 quilts off to Binky Patrol.   They provide blankets to kids suffer from chronic or terminal illneses.   Sorry forgot to take pictures.

Tomorrow I will ship this quilt off to God's Tiny Angels.

It was supposed to go to Army Baby Quilts but turned out too small.   Not to worry, I have more really cool fabric for that organization.   Army Baby quilts makes quilts to give to expectant mothers whose spouse is serving overseas when the baby is due.   Man, giving birth is tough enough but to be away from your spouse at that time is tough.   Hopefully these quilts make a difference.

God's Tiny Angels provides baby clothes, blankets and other supplies to families of premature babies.   The family has something new and beautiful that is just for them and their baby.

Why this group?    I come across several such organizations and I just couldn't get out of my mind.   Imagine all the stress of having a preemie, and worrying how you are going to clothe and keep the little one warm?   At least this is one worry I can help with.  The fine doctors will handle the medical issues I am sure.

Don't forget to donate to a charity and get your block.   I would love to make tons of quilts.   Sadly, the three I am shipping off were not made through donations.   Let's change that.

Update on Clinic

In my last post I said we lost our funding for one of our pro bono clinic locations.   Good news -- we got the funding back.   It took a county employee going to bat with the council for us, but it worked.    One month off then back at it in August.   I look at as a summer vacation from clinic.  

You have no idea how happy I am.   I have been attending this clinic for 4 years straight.    Only missed for illness or because the clinic day fell on a holiday.    I was seriously wondering what I would do on the 1st and 2nd Thursday of every month if I didn't go to clinic.   I would have been lost.   Yeah, I could have always quilted, but clinic helped people so much.   Glad this much needed service is back.

Pillowcases

Had some time to kill before clinic tonight.   The last one at this location, we lost our funding.   If anyone knows of a grant that supports pro bono work let me know.

This was a little project I had been waiting on, so I whipped it out.    Isn't the fabric great for a pillowcase.   Makes you want to take a nap right now.

My local quilt shop Prints Charming collects pillowcases for Conquerr Cancer.  The pillowcases go to brighten the day of a chronically ill child.    Most quilt shops are a drop off point for one charity or another, my local one chose this.    The pattern was really simple.   I fell in love with the fabric (and I have leftovers).   I don't think I will do pillowcases on a regular basis, but this was fun, easy and quick.   I also know I will never buy pillowcases again.   I can get the look I want on my own.

Actual Law Post

I promised my next post would be about my law practice,not my quilting.    I was a little stuck on what to do then the universe intervened.

A little background.   I practice family law in Montgomery County, Maryland.   This covers divorce, custody, child support and protective orders.   Most of my practice is divorce or custody.   I focus on providing services to low income people because you really need representation in family law cases.  So much emotion is involved you just can't think straight.   One of the very first cases I did, I represented the mom.   The dad was self-represented.  We were at the temporary access hearing (it has a formal latin name but you don't care about that).   The Master asked him what schedule he wanted for a toddler.  Dad said he wanted a week on and a week off.   This is what most people who don't know the law think the schedule should be when they are asking for joint custody.   I don't know about other places but in Montgomery County that schedule is rarely ordered because it is too much time away from the other parent, especially for a toddler.   The Master said he wouldn't recommend that schedule.   He asked Dad to suggest another schedule.  Dad was so stuck on what he wanted, that he would not.   I mean he was told that he would not get that, but he would not change because he was so emotionally involved in that schedule.   Attorneys are not emotionally invested in any schedule, alimony amount, property division, (child support is a math formula that is rarely deviated from so no big fight there usually), etc.   We just want what we see as fair to our clients.  A judge says we aren't getting that, we can regroup and come up with an alternative.  So, I fashion my practice to help those who can't otherwise afford an attorney.

This weekend while getting ready for the Lion's Golf Tourney, I took a couple of minutes to read the local bar newsletter.   Buried in the back was an announcement of a free training on Protective Orders, U Visas (victims of domestic violence) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) cases.   All I have to do is agree to take 2 pro bono cases in the next 12 months.   Bwahahahahaha.   Yeah, no problem there.  The training is offered at our wonderful one stop shopping for domestic violence help Family Justice Center by two terrific organizations Catholic Charities and House of Ruth.   I interned with both during law school, although I was in the policy department of Catholic Charities working on human trafficking laws.

I do know what to do with protective orders.   But a training never hurts.   And we had some changes to the law this year.  Maryland finally joined the rest of the US and lowered the standard of proof for a final order to preponderance of evidence.   This easier standard may make it easier for people who really need a final order to get one.  

As for U Visa and VAWA, I know what they are, but that is it.  Looking forward to learning more.  New skills are a good thing.  

Looking forward to the training.   Glad the universe made sure I saw the ad and that I had an opening in my schedule when it was offered.   I'll let you know how it goes.

When Insomnia Strikes - Charity Wins

I wanted to try out EBay's Giving Works before the other items went up.   I also have student loans to pay off.   Besides selling my legal services, I also sell quilts.   Yeah, I mostly quilt for charity, but I have to pay those loans somehow (and finance my fabric addiction).   To that end, I made a listing on EBay where 25% of the proceeds go to Polaris Project.   Every listing I do on EBay will be from 25% to 100% to charity.   This way I help the charities (and there are so very many) and help myself.   I hope you will help by spreading the word.   After all, the higher the bidding, the more the charity gets.

Here is the item for Polaris Project.

Again, if this goes wel, there will be more.   As always, you can help out by donating to the charities to the right.   The quilts made from the quilt blocks will ALWAYS go to charity.   I won't benefit at all.


P.S. the next post will actually be about my pro bono work, I promise.  Now to get some sleep.

Another Charity Quilt

I finished the Breast Cancer Quilt Top.   I just have to make the sandwich and quilt it.   Then it goes up on EBay Giving Works.   I had a lot of long strip pieces left over when I finished.   They were various lengths but all the same width.   It seemed a shame to stick them in the scrap bag for "someday."   Since it was a long holiday weekend and I had time, I decided to do a race quilt with the pieces left over.  Here is the result:

This one is going up on EBay Giving Works too when done.   I want to put it for some prenatal or baby charity since it is more baby quilt size.   Anyone got any suggestions?   Put them in the comments below.   The only requirements is they must already be a listed charity on EBay Giving Works and most of the money the charity raises has to go to programs not administrative works.  Other than that, I am open minded.  If someone has already mentioned a charity that you like, go ahead and mention it again.   If enough people bring up the same organization, I will be more likely to consider that one.

Send a Message to Boku Haram

I'm sure you have all heard the news about the 300 girls who were kidnapped by Boku Haram.   They were taken from their school.   They have been forced to convert to Islam, marry members of Boku Haram and be housewives.   You see, that is all Boku Haram believes women should do.   They are against girls being educated.

Quilting has a long history of sending messages through quilts.   There is the legend of the Underground Railroad quilts (not substantiated but lets not ruin a good story).   The AIDS quilt to remember those lost to the disease and to show how prevalent it is.   Many others that I can't think of right now.  

Let's do the same.   Let's send a message to Boku Haram.   Let's say SCREW YOU (this is a family blog) Boku Haram.   We believe in girls' education.  

For the next 30 days, ANY amount donated to Mercy Corps or Room to Read will merit a block.  The finished quilt(s) will then be auctioned off on Ebay to raise more money for girls' education.   More blocks = more quilts = more money.

Both Room to Read and Mercy Corps have programs focusing on educating girls.   For the month of May, Mercy Corps will match all donations.  

As always share your thoughts below and share this post far and wide.

Quilting for Breast Cancer

Hi ya'all.   How have you been?   Day job been keeping me busy.   Volunteering at clinics.   Working my cases, lots of people need help.   I have been quilting away but mostly on commissions or personal project.   Last night though I had time to work on this quilt.

Clearly it's for breast cancer.   Lots of breast cancer fabric in there.   It's not quite done, I need to get some more pink fabric.   But right now there is a moratorium on buying fabric because I am running out of room for it.   So some fabric has to go out before more comes in.

When it's done it will be auctioned off on Ebay through their Giving Works programs.  100% of the proceeds will go to the selected charity.   When I put it up, I will post a link here.

So let me know what you are up to in the comments, don't forget to donate to the organizations on the right.

World Wide Quilting Day

Today is World Wide Quilting Day.   So what have I been doing all day?   Quilting, of course.   Working on a friend's quilt, working on a quilt of my own design.   Tomorrow, I am making the "sandwich" for the quilt I am making for the Lion's Club Golf Tourney in June.   It will be part of the Silent Auction.  

Here's a picture.   I actually don't have room to show the whole quilt.   I have to borrow a friend's floor to make the sandwich.  

So really, since I started quilting last night, it is more like World Wide Quilting weekend for me.   Would love to do more, so feel free to make a donation to any of the organizations on the right, so I can make quilt blocks.  

Happy New Year

Yeah, I am a tad late.   Been busy recovering from the holidays.   I have not forgotten the purpose of this blog.   I have 3 quilt tops that just need to be fminished and they will be off to charity.  

I haven't finished them because charity begins at home.   Been busy on a little project that is almost done.  Then back to charity work.  

I will continue with the origional plan for this blog -- donate at least $10 to one of the charities on the right and you get a block made in your honor.   The finished quilt goes to charity.   But I plan something additional this year.   I will be making full quilts that will be auctioned off online.   You can bid on the quilts and the money goes to the selected charity.   More on this when I get a quilt done.   In the meantime, don't forget to donate.   It's never too early on starting those charitable deductions for 2014.

Here's to lots of quilting in 2014!